<img src="http://thefeed.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/tomlinson.jpg" title="LaDainian Tomlinson" alt="LaDainian Tomlinson" align="left" height="207" width="182" />It turns out that Madden 2008 cover boy Vince Young was not EA Sports' first choice. Before Young got the video game endorsement, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson was offered the opportunity to appear on the cover but turned it down.

According to CNBC (via Deadspin), Tomlinson doesn't believe in the Madden Curse, but he does believe that he deserves to be well compensated for the use of his image, and he balked at the payment EA Sports offered. Players who appear on the cover usually get $100,000 to $200,000 to make various promotional appearances to help sell the game, and Tomlinson didn't feel that was enough to make it worth his while.